Who says soccer is not a family-friendly game?
For the Whiddons of San Diego, it's all about family.
David and Janet Whiddon are veteran education professionals. Janet is a principal and David an athletic director. Their oldest son Trevor is 18 and about to enroll at Cal State Fullerton where he will be a goalkeeper on the soccer team. Younger son Will, 15, is also a standout keeper at Surf SC. Soccer has taken them all around the country even the world, and they've managed to do most of it as a group.
"We have been playing soccer together since the boys were 4 or 5 years old," David Whiddon said. "I grew up playing in England and it's always been a part of my life. When little kids watch their father play, I guess they don't have a choice."
Trevor (left) and Will (right) Whiddon.
While David Whiddon, who moved to the U .S. and played college soccer, inherited his love for the game, wife Janet sort of married into or birthed it. She has naturally become immersed in it herself, and recounts how early Trevor and Will became involved with the game.
"The boys were probably playing soccer before they could run. I remember them crawling after the ball with my husband. It was almost destiny that they would become players and have the opportunities they've been afforded through the game," Janet said. "My husband's wish was to make sure they got the best and we've been fortunate to be around a lot of good people and teams."
David and Janet tell familiar stories about splitting chauffeur duties and determining which one will watch which game on a given day. Trevor and Will have kept them on their toes as both continue to excel at the highest levels.
A notable quality about each player is their technical skill. They can both be part of starting attacking moves as their ability to receive, dribble and pass are at a level you would expect from a field player.
"Both of them are comfortable on the ball. They are kind of dynamic that way," David said. "We've been going to England and watching matches and on TV. They've been around it so much they've gained an ability to read the game, which maybe is not as common in America. Coaches have valued what they can do and it allows them to do some things differently on the tactical side."
Trevor, who is a big fan of former Manchester United and France goalkeeper Fabian Barthez, is somewhat more adventurous when it comes to venturing around his half of the field. Will is a little more tethered to goal, but is just as willing to get involved with knocking the ball around the back end. Both have an uncanny ability to make an acrobatic, out-of-this-world match-preserving kind of save, as any number of west coach strikers will tell you.
Trevor began the goalkeeping odyssey, as David recalls, out of necessity.
"When Trevor was 8 I had a friend who coached at Surf, and he was looking for a goalkeeper for his U10 team. The coach said ‘Let me kick a few balls at you' and Trevor realized he could dive and roll around, which at that age he thought was the greatest thing he could do. He had athletic ability but no knowledge of goal at all. With Will – it was just because his older brother played the position. It wasn't me because I played in the field my whole career."
Will admits to wanting to follow in his brother's path when he chose goalkeeper as a position, and he says family ties continue to help him in his development.
I go out to training or out to the park every night with my brother and dad," Will said. "They do a lot to help me so I'll be more confident when I go to games,, so I'll believe in myself and do it."
Will Whiddon
Trevor is a great fan of his younger brother, but shrouds it somewhat in fraternal ribbing.
"He always wants to go to the park and have me shoot on him, it's usually 70/30 me ripping shots at him," Trevor jokes. "I'll say ‘Want me to take a turn?' and he's like ‘No, I'll just keep going.' He'll start making fun of me shoot it harder and stop being a girl. He's quite a goofball really."
The brothers both credit Surf goalkeeper coach Joe Painan with being a big influence on their development.
"I've been with Joe since I first started with the club," Will said. "Without Joe I probably wouldn't be with Surf any more. Who knows where I would have been. He got me to the national level (U15 BNT)."
"Without his coaching I wouldn't be where I am right now," Trevor said. "I'm going to miss him. He's taught me everything I need to know."
Both boys have ambitions of playing professionally, and holding the vaunted European Union passport through their father doesn't hurt. Will in fact was able to train for two weeks with West Ham after being spotted at the Milk Cup in Northern Ireland last year.
For now though, Surf and Cal State Fullerton will be the beneficiaries of the Whiddon family goalkeeping prowess, with David and Janet continuing to provide the vital assistance that can only come from parents.
